The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-09-22
THE DUEL.
Fight Yesterday Between General
Rocha and Senor Gayon
in Mexico.
At the First Fire Gayon Falls,
Probably Mortally Wound
ed--The Causes.

CITY OF MEXICO, September he
Combate (newspaper) organ of army
. officers, is giving much space to the sharE
attacks on the Jesuits, and printing what
are alleged to be the secret instructions tc
members of that order, charging them
with conspiring against the liberal gov
ernment everywhere. The bitter anti.
clerical tone of Ell Combate is attracting
much attention, as it expresses the senti-
ment of military leaders. The recent con,
troversy regarding the conduct of the
Emperor Maximilllan at Queretaro has
served to bring the liberal and clerical
parties into hostile attitude.
Military and political circles are greatly
excited tonight over the result OF
the duel which took place al
8 O'Clock this morning in one of the bar.
racks of this city. The principals were
General Rocha and Senior Antonio Gayon
chief of one of the bureaus of the war de-
partment.
The question of General Lopez con-
duct at Queretaro and his relations to
Emporer Maximlllian was the cause of the
duel. Some time ago Senior Gayon, who
was one of the officers of the Imperial
army under Maximillian, wrote letter
In the newspapers denouncing Lopez as a
traltor, and asserting that Lopez conduct
was we'll understood among officers of
Maximillian's army.
General Rochea replied in Ell Combate,
saying that some men were traitors to
their chief and others to their country,
but that did not prevent their taking Of
flee under the new regime.
Senior Gayon who is personally very
brave man, challenged General Rocha,
naming as his second, General Pradilla, at
present governor of the palace, and JUS
tino Fernandez, the celebrated lawyer.
General Rocha chose for his seconds,
General Naranio (ex-secretary of war;
and Colonel Omano.
At the first shot exchanged, this morn
ing, Gayon fell back in the arms of his
second, his right breast pierced by a
bullet, but he rallied and asked if the duel
could not go on, but the Sec
onds and surgeons attending re-
fused Permission. Late this after
noon Senior Gayon lies in critical con-
dition and is reported to be
dying. He is man of 5S
years of age, while General Rocha
is about 80. Gayon has a grown-up
family.
General Rocha was conspicuous figure
in the war against the empire, and his
capturing of Tampico by tactics similar to
those of General Grant at the Wilderness,
and his victory at La Bufa, near the city
of Zacatecas, made him famous. He is
commonly known as "the tiger" from his
well known courage and his disposition to
take great risks in warfare. He is pro-
prietor and editor-in- chief of Ell Combate,
previously mentioned as noted for its ag-
gressive articles. 1t is generally believed
that this duel is only the begin
ming of a series of duels growing
out of the fued between the partisans of
the late empire and leading liberals,
1t is rumored that President Diaz pre-
vented duel coming off between General
Rocha and General Arce, governor of the
state of Guerrero, growing out of tn
same matter.
Late tonight it became known that an
other important duel will be fought We'd
nesday, this time between General Mar
ranjo and General Pradilla, who were
seconds in to-day's fight. The difficulty
between them grew out of talk made
when their principals met this morning,
Senor Gayon, the wounded duelist, was to-
have fought this evening with the journal
list, Trejo, but of course was unable to be
present